Za'ak

Overview

Classified as “Severly Inhabitable”, Za'ak is known to be amongst the most dangerous planet in the galaxy, or at least in the category of worlds that can and do support life. While certainly beautiful with it's varied ecosystems, it is a planet of pure savagery and of remarkable brutality and the birthplace of the Za'akis people and the Praetorian Kharag. Just about every life form and plant is deadly to some degree, either via their sheer size, aggression or particularly extreme defense mechanisms. The average temperature is similar to earth but the planet reach higher and lower extremes during the peak seasons. Atmospheric composition is mostly similar to it too, making the air theorically breathable for Lor and Humans, assuming they do not inhale spores from local plant life, which may either burn the inside of their bodies or nest within their lungs similar to parasite. Gravity is slightly heavier than earth but is within a tolerable range for Lor and Humans.

The planet has a single continent; a supercontinent, currently in the slow process of splitting apart. Za'ak has two satellites, which are moons. Their most common name given is Marador and Kolarth.

Fauna & Flora

From vast forests to deserts to the depths of the ocean, Za'ak is filled with massive monstrous predators, many of them as centuries old, which have grown to massive size and posses impressive regenerative abilities. This has long puzzled xenobiologists and hint that, perhaps, some life forms might have been purposefully engineered as biological weapons of some sort. Perplexing matters, some of the creature living on Za'ak seem to share absolutely no evolutionary ties with the rest of the creatures on the planet, hinting they might have been transported there and have since adapted to their new home.

Flying Leeches: Leech is not exactly the right word, but is the closest possible translation. These floating, amorphous creatures, despite looking like little more than squiggly translucent bean-shaped lumps of flesh are in fact quite dangerous. At the bottom of their body is a circular hole from which emerge long barbed tendrils, which can pierce flesh. Once attached to it's prey, the flying 'leech' will suck out the blood and then any moisture.

Maaghu: Natives of the the plains and plateaus of Za'ak, Amaghu are large dinosaur-like reptilian beasts noted for their speed. While temperamental, like everything else on the planet, they are amongst the rare few beasts used as mounts by the Za'ak. Training them involves a lot of blood shed...by both parties involved.

Kl'Kran Beasts: Despite most, if not all of Za'ak lifeforms being predatory in some shape or form, Kl'Kran fills a recognisable ecological niche as land-based predators akin to wolves and large felines. These agile, sneaky, reptilian beasts tend to hunt in loose packs, with the elder alpha males developing vivid marking on their bodies. This combined with the dangers of hunting them has made Kl'kran beasts very prized.

Khrodon: Khrodons are the closest thing Za'ak has to grazing animals of earth. Primarily plant-eating omnivores, these enormous quadrupedal beasts come in many sizes and shape, althought the smallests are taller than the average Za'akis. Khrodons have heavily armored body, with a skin similar to that of the Za'akis, albeit several time harder. Their heads and backs are protected by large bony plates and their heads bear tusks and/or horns. The smallest specimens have been domesticated…barely. Naturally aggressive, they are the reason that shepherds and butchers are some of the most respected jobs in Za'akis society.

Ravager Worm: Despite the name worm, these creatures are more akin to snakes and centipedes. Growing to massive size, they rival the Sky-Tyrants in term of size, ferocity and infamy. With a massive gullet filled with multiple tongues and powerful mandibules, these creatures have been known to eat entire towns. It has been noted by xenobiologists that, like many creatures on Za'ak, they have almost no evolutionary relatives, suggesting they are not native to the planet but have since adapted. And no, they don't borrow into sand, for the record.

Sky-Tyrant: The first image one would get would be one of earth's fabled and imaginary dragons. However, this is actually wrong, Sky-Tyrants are more akin to bats. Enormous, feral-looking carnivorous hairless bats. These creatures are extremely long-lived, barring death from their battles over mates. Despite the name Sky-Tyrant, these monsters are equally at home on the ground as in the air, feeding off Khrodons and anything large enough to be noticed by them. Most famously, the skull of an elder tusked Sky Tyrant was used as a throne by the mythical emperor of Za'ak, Kharag.

Swarmling: A wide category of insect-like creatures which, as the name implies, lives in vast swarms for survival. Ranging from bug-sized to cat-sized, these creatures viciously attack anything that come into their territory. As a deterent against them, many Za'akis cities frequently leave freshly-killed beasts within safe distance of the town, hoping the swarmlings will be attracted and, once fed, will not bother to come after the Za'akis afterward.

History

Ancient Za'ak

Ancient Za'ak was covered in pockets of civilization, living a harsh life fighting off against the encroaching predators. These primitive Za'akis organized into clan, tribes or houses and lived a life of pure brutality either against predators or themselves. This era came to an end when Kharag unified his people and began a technological revolution which lead them to something close to an early industrial age.

Across Za'ak are ruins which predate Za'akis civilization, which reinforce the theory that the planet has been tampered by outside influence.

Andromedan Occupation

Modern Za'ak is a fallen world. It's native people no longer live upon it's surface. During or after the fall of the Delaztri, a brood of Andromedans began a serie of raids on Za'ak which eventually cumulate in the death of most Za'akis living on their homeworld. The Adromedans then claimed Za'ak and it's moons for their own, setting up their bases of operation on the moons and their hatcheries on the planet surface, where they began hunting down the local life forms and assimilating their traits and strengths. Over time, this made Za'ak Brood the most aggressive and feral of all Andromedan broods.

Despite their efforts, the Andromedans never managed to fully take control of Za'ak, as it's environment eventually re-asserted itself. Today, it's ecosystem coexist alongside the alien invaders, who prey upon local life forms just as much as they are preyed upon by said local life forms.

History at a Glance

~ -24XX BC: Kharag is born.

~ -23XX BC: Kharag begin unifying the various tribes and clans of Za'ak.

~ -2000 BC: Za'akis are uplifted and join galactic civilization as member of the Delaztri empire.